A special meeting has been called for the Murrieta Planning Commission this week to address a housing project as well as a permit request for an existing house of worship.

The commission is scheduled to meet at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 18, in the City Council Chambers at Murrieta City Hall, Jefferson Avenue and Kalmia Street.

First up on the agenda is an application from Marker Company LLC to permit construction of 54 detached single-family homes on 6.6 acres in a gated, condominium-style development on Sugarberry Lane.

The project property spans 20 acres. But according to a city staff report, the developer cannot build on 64 percent of the land because it has habitat of the Los Angeles pocket mouse, a species that has been pushed out of much of its historical range.

Associate planner Greg Smith said by telephone that the site is along Warm Springs Creek and contains vernal pools known to be inhabited by the mouse.

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Also on the agenda is a request by the Islamic Center of Temecula Valley for a conditional use permit for its existing house of workshop at 26820 Hobie Circle, in the south Murrieta industrial corridor along Jefferson Avenue.

The center is leasing about 8,000 square feet in a warehouse while it constructs a mosque in Temecula.

Bashir Alghizawi, board vice chairman, said the center has occupied the space for two hours and just recently learned that the city required a permit to operate there.

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